Is getting TV when you want it really what you want?

There you have the problem and the promise of watching programs produced for TV over the Internet. Yes, the Web can deliver a growing list of shows on demand to Web-enabled devices, allowing you to watch whenever you want to watch. But are they what you want to watch, and is that how you want to watch them?

The good news for restless viewers is that the list of legally provided, producer-approved shows is growing longer every day. Everything from "24" to "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" is available on such sites as Hulu, Veoh and Joost (names that seem to be designed to be forgotten). And, of course, every broadcast network runs a site of its own, which is where you should look first if what you want is the latest episodes of still-running series.

You won't find everything. At the moment, all that's available from "24," for example, are a few episodes from the first and last seasons. In time, more will no doubt be available, but not yet.

Yes, you probably can find more of "24" if you go to the sites that permit users to upload shows on their own, sometimes with the networks' approval, tacit or otherwise, often without. But while this may sound old-fashioned, you're taking someone else's property without paying for it, and that's theft.

As for what you can find legally, let's just say the networks are not above using the Net as yet another dumping ground as they attempt to squeeze the last nickel out of a money-losing flop.

Still, there's no doubt the pool of programs is getting deeper and wider every day. Before you jump in, though, you should consider whether the water is really to your liking.

Yes, there's novelty in being able to call up an episode of "ALF" on your computer. But you may not be content for long with choppy feeds on smaller screens. Experiences vary, depending on the speed and strength of your connection, and the quality of the feed and your computer screen. But even the best computer can't compare with a home theater.

On the other hand, you can't carry that 50-inch HDTV with you — and you can't make it show you episodes of "Airwolf" wherever you want.

Is that enough of what you want? I don't know, but I do know this: Hollywood is eager for your answer.